Body boarding tourney promotes cancer awareness

Dominic Brown has never ridden an ocean wave, but has taken to the surf almost every day this summer.

Brown, a Kings Island summer employee, doesn?t have to go far to strut his stuff ? past only the kiddie rides, food stands and wave pool.

Since first riding King Island?s FlowRider last month, he has been hooked on the sport.

Competitive mainland body boarding is a sport, as evidenced by the All-American?Surf?s Up Tournament, held at King Island?s Soak City Wednesday.?

For some, the day in the sun had a sentimental tone, though. More important than the body varials and 360-degree spins, the event was put together to show off a worthy cause.

It was organized by the Karen Wellington Memorial Foundation, which honors its namesake, who fought a 10-year battle with cancer, by providing vacations to women with breast cancer and their families.

In 2011 alone, the organization provided 12 cancer patients with dream retreats around the country.?

One went to South Carolina, another went to Hilton Head and several made their way down the Florida coast. But all of their stories hit home.?

Don Helbig, Kings Island public relations manager, said all of the money raised from the $25 admission fee for 50-plus riders would go directly to the foundation, which helps women live fully despite cancer.?

Living life to its potential was a fitting theme for the event, as Brown said he?s seen everyone from preteens to senior citizens test their moxie on what Kings Island deems its very own ?Pipeline in Paradise.?

?This is hard for the first week,? he said. ?You fall a lot and your knees hurt a little bit, but once you get more comfortable you start learning tricks and stuff.??

Since riders rarely get fully airborne on their minimally maneuverable body boards, on which they either kneel or lie, creativity is a must.?

Riders such as 11-year veteran Robert Clark are tasked with breaking the mold and progressing the sport.

Clark has been dominating FlowRiders since his kindergarten days, and has progressed into one of his age group's top riders ? ?second in the nation,? he claims.?

Part of the appeal in the ever-growing sport is the fast learning curve, high action potential and easy accessibility.?

?It?s all about the surf,? Clark said. ?Out here, it?s hard to catch a wave. There?s nowhere except eight or nine hours away to catch a wave, so with this, you can get it anywhere.?

But his involvement in the sport is not limited to Soak City?s three-lane machine. Clark travels around the country, competing on the U.S. Flow Tour. Professional body boarding has existed in some capacity for two decades.

Unlike Brown, Clark has made the trek to the ocean and can compare the two sports side-by-side.?

?Ocean surfing is harder, but this is harder to get used to,? he said, about FlowRider body boarding. ?Instead of getting carried, you?re fighting the wave, so it?s a little bit different of a feel.?

The only feeling Helbig, who lasts ?only three or four seconds? on the FlowRider, cares about is the one riders experience during competition. Not only does he want to bring riders back to the park, but he also wants to leave them with a lasting impression.?

?I think everybody?s having a good time in the competition, and more importantly, they?re doing it for a good cause,? he said.

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Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48074377/ns/local_news-cincinnati_oh/

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